GeekSugar

Blockbuster Files For Bankruptcy: How Do You Get Movies?

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:45:58 PDT

One-time movie rental powerhouse Blockbuster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this morning. The company has more than $1 billion worth of debt and is asking for help so it can restructure, but won't be shutting all its doors. The CEO said it plans to bounce back as "the only operator that provides access across multiple delivery channels - stores, kiosks, by-mail and digital." Netflix and iTunes have a rep for killing the video store, but Blockbuster's approach aims to make its movies available everywhere. I suppose only time will tell if it works. How do you get all of your blockbusters?

Get a Free Movie Rental From Amazon

GeekSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:00:23 PST

Similar to the free MP3 credits offered by Amazon earlier this month, they're now offering a free movie rental. The $4 movie credit is good toward any movie purchase or rental, including new releases like The Hangover and Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Price. To get your free rental, head over to Amazon's video on-demand page and enter the promotional code provided. Then choose the movie or TV show you want to watch and click the "buy" or "rent" button.

You'll have to create a free Amazon account if you don't already have one, and the offer is only good until Sunday, January 3, so hurry up and take advantage of this free offer!

Premium Cable Movie Channel Tests the Waters Online First

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:05:40 PST

Soon there will be yet another premium cable channel competing against HBO, Showtime, and your attention. Offering up newly released movies, Epix will launch its service in October with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the top of its playlist. But what Epix is doing differently is something any Internet fiend can get behind: they're launching five months early to online subscribers first.

This means that starting in May, you can check out great new movies from MGM, Paramount, and Lions Gate on your computer from wherever you have an Internet connection.

Unfortunately, there have been no subscription prices released yet, and streaming the content on the web isn't the studios' primary business model, but I'm hoping they keep the goods coming online even after the channel launches in October - I'm sure those of you without cable would agree.

Where to Find Free Video Downloads on iTunes

GeekSugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:05:40 PDT

I know, getting constant updates in your RSS reader with the 99-cent movie of the week on iTunes is pretty sweet and such a nice surprise. But what if you could easily check out all the free video downloads from iTunes? Yes you heard correctly - free downloads on iTunes, they do exist! Apple's iTunes Store is finally aggregating all of their free video content in one handy spot, so you can find the goods quicker and easier.

There aren't a ton of videos to choose from - yet - so let's keep our fingers crossed that Apple adds some more to their $0 line-up! To access the videos, go to the iTunes store and click on TV shows. Once you're on the TV page, scroll down to find the "Free On iTunes" content. Keep in mind that the free downloads are currently only available to US residents.

Warner Brothers to Offer Movies Earlier Online

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Don't get me wrong, I love being able to see a movie I missed in theaters as soon as it becomes available on DVD - don't we all? But in all honesty, it really doesn't bother me if I want to watch it on my cable pay-per-view service and wait a few months after the DVD release. Well according to The New York Times, Warner Brothers will now be offering video-on-demand systems on the same day they are released as DVDs.

Therefore movies will now become available a heck of a lot faster to users of online rental services like Apple TV, Comcast, Amazon and iTunes movie rentals. Warner Bros. is hoping that this new change will decrease the costs of manufacturing and distributing DVDs.

Hulu Movies: First Impression

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:00:43 PDT

I was all jazzed up this week when Hulu, the free streaming video site went public. Since their movie service hasn't gained as much attention as their hyped-up TV service, I decided to take it for a test drive by connecting my MacBook Pro to my 50-inch HDTV for the full movie-watching experience. The movie selection isn't the greatest, but they plan to add many more titles as time goes on.

After selecting the Kevin Spacey movie K-Pax, I was required to sign-up for an account since the video had "mature content." Sign-up was quick and painless, and the movie started right away. To see what I thought about the sound quality and commercials,

read more Sound quality: Was excellent while listening through an external stereo receiver, and the video quality turned out to be OK. It was probably on par with normal TV, although it looked like there were fewer frames (probably 20) when there was alot of action, as the picture looked choppy. Commercials: Probably about 8-10 throughout the entire movie, and they were much louder than the actual movie (you can't help but pay attention). Ads are much shortly than normal TV (about 15-25 seconds), and ticker ads would periodically appear at the bottom of the screen. . . but they weren't overly distracting or annoying. Overall, for a free service it was pretty good, although I don't think I'd want to expense out for this service anytime soon unless the picture quality improved.

The Online Video Site Hulu Goes Public Tomorrow

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:55:24 PDT

Starting tomorrow you'll be able to catch all your favorite shows online with Hulu, which is set to emerge from its private beta status - yay! Hulu already distributes content for NBC and FOX and will be adding more content from Warner Brothers, Lionsgate as well as many other networks. Not only will you get to watch great shows like The Office and House, but Hulu also provides full length movies. The catch? There is no catch, Hulu is free and gets its revenue from short 15 to 30 second ads. Thanks for the heads-up Calamari! Unfortunately this service is only available in the U.S. right now.

On Your Marks, Get Set ... Stare!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:59:01 PST

It's really hard to beat a good competition movie, whether it's a bad dance movie, a documentary about real-life competition, or a totally fake documentary. Thus, I present to you my latest online find: a mockumentary called Unflinching Triumph: The Phillip Rockhammer Story.

This hilariously deadpan film, which you can watch in its entirety on the web, explores the "inner world" of staring contests, including the nationwide championship held by the NASP, or National Association of Staredown Professionals. Phillip Rockhammer is the "professional staring athlete" whose journey is documented in the film. From his nail-biting showdowns with the reigning champion to his personal struggles, the camera captures it all. With tender seriousness, director J.R. McCord lightly mocks the competition documentary genre with this movie about, in Phillip Rockhammer's words, "the ultimate challenge of mind and body."

Geeky Proposals Caught on Film

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:05:05 PST

With Valentine's Day creeping around the corner, we're caught up in the season of love. If it's marriage we're talking, these days, to make a serious statement of your heart's intentions it's all about adding some geeky personality for an unforgettable proposal. We've seen dozens of these proposals memorialized on the web to send our hearts aflutter. The latest: the below video combines binary coding aptitude and Futurama fanaticism. Yes, that is a proposal spoken exclusively in binary.

Follow the break to watch our favorite geek-tinted proposals.

6 Strategies to Save More This Year

Kiplinger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:27:21 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Saving doesn't come easily for us young adults. Entry-level salaries don't give you a lot to work with. And, well, we also tend to spend what we make - and then some - on the latest gadgets and flashiest fashions.

But don’t worry. We’re not doomed to frivolity and the wreckage it can make of our finances. Here's how you can start saving smart throughout 2012:

Periodically calculate how much you spend. What better time to review your budget than at the start of a New Year? “It’s really hard to [track your spending] each month, so aim for just once or twice a year,” says Jill Boynton, a certified financial planner in Newington, New Hampshire.

Just be sure when you do it that you track everything. Boynton recommends filling out a spreadsheet with a month’s worth of spending. Or you can try an online budgeting tool such as Mint.com (See our slide show: Which Budgeting Site is Best for You?). But note: Mint works best for those who deal mostly in plastic as opposed to cash. When you make an ATM withdrawal, the site labels the transaction as “Cash & ATM.” Unless you diligently manage your cash transactions (you can manually edit Mint’s labels), you can easily lose track of where the money goes.

The drudgery of tracking spending can pay off when you find surprising expenses you could easily cut. At the end of 2011, I crunched my own numbers and found that I shelled out about $200 a month at Starbucks and other restaurants. I’m sure I could cut that by at least half. That’s like finding a $100 bill every month in my back pocket.

Read on for more strategies.